I've lived most of my life in the black or white...I was junk-food-addicted-couch-potato then food-phobic-health-freak.I'm done with the extremes of black or white and ready to embrace the gray! I'm on a journey to find the healthiest version of me and I'm documenting my journey here hoping that it will help me and maybe even inspire someone else...

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D21 My Grocery Store Essentials & The Things I CANNOT Bring Home

Confession: I love grocery shopping!! I used to hate it. I hated the crowds, I hated the lines, I hated feeling totally overwhelmed by all the varieties and not knowing what to get and I used to leave with a bunch of crap I didn't need and nothing that I did need! I'd be frustrated and pissed off for the entire week thinking "how am I supposed to eat well if I have nothing to eat and if I just went grocery shopping how is it even possible I have nothing to eat!?" It took some time to get into the habit of making a list but once I started making a list and checking off what I needed as I went I was able to be a lot more proficient and I spent money where I needed to and therefore I spent a lot less of it! I wasn't coming home with 10 jars of cinnamon and a jar of pickles unless I NEEDED 10 jars of cinnamon and a jar of pickles.Now that I've been making lists and shopping on a mission I've been able to cut down on wasted money and time and I have come up with a list of "must haves" that I buy pretty much every time we go, unless I have enough in my fridge or cabinets which I'm going to share with you now so that maybe it'll help you! I put astar next to Power FoodsProduce:

cucumbers*

peppers-red, yellow, orange, green*

red or white potatoes*

sweet potatoes (I've been LOVING potato-o's which come shrink wrapped so all you have to do is microwave them for 5-7 minutes! They also have white potato-o's. I found them in the produce section with the potatoes)*

apples*

grape or cherry tomatoes*

celery*

seasonal fresh fruit*

spinach*

portabello mushrooms*

Deli & Dairy:

low sodium 99% fat free turkey breast from the deli (I like Prima Della which I found at Walmart)* (only a Power Food if it's low sodium and fat free)

I used to love yogurt, my favorite was plain fat free greek yogurt with fresh fruit mixed in but I found that yogurt was bothering my stomach and had to stop eating it :( I'm not completely dairy free (hence the cheese) but I can't eat yogurt without a sour stomach :(

canned fruit like pineapples in their own fruit juice* (only Power Foods if they're in their own juice!)

PB2 (chocolate and plain peanut butter)

peanut butter

In my cabinets:

old fashioned oats*

100 calorie popcorn (I prefer kettle corn but they have butter)*

light bread (I prefer light oatmeal)*

light English muffins*

bagel thins

canola or olive oil

tuna packed in water*

cinnamon

seasoned salt

garlic salt

stevia

Having spices on hand to cook with makes food really flavorful without packing on extra points.

Freezer section:

frozen broccoli*

frozen green peppers-chopped*

frozen white onions-chopped*

frozen strawberries*

frozen blueberries*

frozen butternut squash*

frozen corn*

frozen mixed veggies*

Boca original vegan veggie burger* (only a power food if you get the original vegan veggie burger, 2 points! The All American Flame Broiled veggie burger is 3 points and NOT a Power Food)

Boca original chick'n patties

salmon filets (only a Power Food if it's wild caught!)

Weight Watchers chicken tenders*

Always having these things available in my house (even if I don't plan on using them within that week) helps me so much because if things change last minute I need a quick easy alternative! This week there were a couple of nights where we changed the dinner menu last minute and had I not had some of these items in my house I would've been in trouble. When I find myself dinnerless or plans change last minute this often leads to overeating and/or overspending my points. When I'm hungry and have no options I don't think quick well. There's a Subway across the street from my house and nothing good happens at Subway. I mean it CAN but most often I find myself giving into temptation when I'm there. I know I could order a chopped salad but most likely I'm going to end up ordering a sub. When I have my essentials on hand I can quickly heat up a can of soup and make myself a sandwich or salad or scramble up some eggs and a turkey sausage patty. Maybe it's not ideal but it's a lot better than fast food :)And here is a list of the foods I DON'T buy because I've learned the hard way I cannot have these items in my house without being tempted to binge on them. Some of these items are "healthy" and some people can enjoy them in moderation but I can't!

any kind of ice cream treat

candy

bagels

cereal (even "healthy cereal" like Grapenuts...ya, seriously...)

white bread

crackers

cookies

sugar free jello (for some reason these make me hungrier!!! Eating one of these always leads to eating EVERYTHING that isn't tied down!)

pudding cups

whipped cream

soda (even diet)

fruit juice

chips

pretzels

pastries

snack cakes (anything like Little Debbie)

"healthy" snack cakes (fiber one cakes or snacks)

granola bars

If I want something on my "must not have" list I will figure out a way to fit it into my week. I love Nature Valley crunchy granola bars for example but if I have a box in my house I might eat 2 or more packages in a day so I buy one package at a time at a gas station or convenience store if I really want one. Dunkin Donuts has bagels and I rarely want a bagel but if I do I'll get ONE there, track the points and move on! Some of those items I just don't want anymore...I can live without cereal and cookies and white bread so I don't care about not having those but if for some reason I'm really craving them I can also get those in single serving size. One thing I'll never, ever give up is ICE CREAM!! I love ice cream and a life without ice cream is no life at all but I've found that ice cream tastes a million times better when someone else scoops it for you ;-)So there's my list! I hope it helps and/or inspires you the next time you hit the grocery store. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can be but I promise with a little practice you'll be a grocery shopping pro like me. -t

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About Me

I'm a recovering junk-food-addicted-couch-potato turned food-phopbic-health-freak. I've lived both of the extremes, black and white! Now I'm working towards the middle which I call "the gray".
I truly believe that we can change our lives and be healthier and happier, we just have to take the first step, let's do it together :)
I'm a Weight Watcher member and employee but I'm here to document my own personal journey. All opinions and views are my own and separate from Weight Watchers.